Ecstasy pills shaped like cartoon characters seized in drug bust

They look like cute cartoon character vitamins, but these tablets will give you more than just a few chuckles.

The pills, shaped in such forms as Bart Simpson and the monkey logo Paul Frank, are ecstasy — a dangerous drug that is making its way through schools in this province.

Ecstasy is known to cause elevated body temperatures, high blood pressure and increased heart rate. It can lead to unstoppable bleeding, liver and kidney failure and death. Yet it continues to circulate, taking such shapes to better appeal to children.

More than 1,000 of these pills were said to have been found by RNC drug unit investigators Wednesday night during a traffic stop in downtown St. John’s.

At around 11 p.m., officers pulled over a 2001 Chev Tahoe that was being driven by Mary Alexandra English. Police seized about 1,000 ecstasy pills, more than 30 Oxycontin pills (80s) and other drug paraphernalia. The car was also impounded.

English was taken into custody.

The 21-year-old ducked to hide her face from reporters as she was led into provincial court in St. John’s in handcuffs Thursday.

Once inside the courtroom, duty counsel Jane Fitzpatrick requested to have the case put over for day for a possible bail hearing.

Crown prosecutor Brenda Boyd and Judge Greg Brown agreed to have the case brought back again today. English was taken back to jail.

She’s charged with possessing ecstasy for the purpose of trafficking, possessing oxycodone and two counts of breaching court orders.

The RNC drug investigation unit is continuing to investigate.

Anyone with information in relation to this investigation is asked to contact the RNC at 729-8000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Information can also be provided on NL Crimestoppers website at www.nlcrimestoppers.com.

English is already facing several drug-related charges as a result of a major drug bust, dubbed Operation Razorback.

She was one of 13 people arrested in January 2010 in connection with the sting, which was initiated by the RNC, with the assistance of the RCMP B Division.

Police seized more than 672.5 grams of cocaine, a small amount of marijuana and $466,075 in cash.

Also seized were six vehicles, brass knuckles, a knife, a collapsible baton, drug-processing paraphernalia, jewelry, a money counter, a laptop computer, a stun gun, a BB rifle and a vacuum sealing machine.

All except a few cases, including English’s, have been settled in court.

In the Razorback case, English faces charges of laundering proceeds of crime, possessing proceeds of crime, possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possessing a prohibited weapon (brass knuckles).

For those charges, she’s expected back in court in September, when her lawyer plans to argue a Charter of Rights application. Her trial is scheduled to begin in April.